Folks, we have a serious problem with OTW. At the risk of oversimplifying it, people just can't seem to get along. This particular forum has very little to do with Gentoo, yet it consumes a *tremendous* amount of our resources. Roughly 90% of the time we spend moderating is spent in this forum. The same forum that, by it's very nature, has nothing to do with Gentoo.

There are a number of reasons for this, but at the end of the day, it all boils down to an inability to be civil to one another. I have no idea why this basic social skill is so difficult for some folks to grasp. Disagreeing with each other is perfectly fine. Lashing out at one another is not.

These forums are primarily designed to help folks install and use Gentoo. OTW is not part of this goal and, as such, if it continues to be a demilitarized minefield where we have to spend hours and hours patrolling and policing to maintain order, it will simply disappear.

We dont want to do this. I, especially, dont want to do this. I view OTW as one of the primary reasons for the success of the Gentoo forums to-date. That said, we need to continually re-evaluate the state of affairs and ensure that were acting in the best interest of the Gentoo community. If we continue to have to devote 90% of our moderation time to OTW, thats a pretty good indication that we may not be serving the needs of the Gentoo community as well as we might otherwise.

So, Im going to ask for your help. Please police yourselves  dont crank up the rhetoric or the emotions when talking about volatile subjects like religion or politics. Keep things civil, keep them polite and keep them courteous. That way, we can all keep enjoying OTW.

Thanks.

--kurt
edit: Made unsticky, seems things seem at least acceptable at the moment. Please don't mess up OTW though.
amne, 2005-05-19_________________The problem with political jokes is that they get elected

otw is a great thing, it sounds like it's doomed though. i somehow doubt people will ever be able to restrain themselves. i think it will have a dramatic effect on the great community though, which is why we're (me & slyde) already working on a replacement for otw if it gets toasted.

Not that its the most sensible idea and people should know how to act, but how about a moderator whos only purpose is to watch over off the wall?

Good luck with that. I went out for a few hours last Friday and when I came back the last thread I had read was one page back and two page long threads had grown to 5+ pages. The mod would have to literally spend all his time at the computer.

I am going to lose a little bit sense of belonging, that's all. I do agree that some dudes are out of control and it is waste of resources to host it here. Since 99% of my posts go in here, I find myself doomed in Gentoo Forums.

Obvious enough, this is a sad thing for me._________________Gone forever.

Not that its the most sensible idea and people should know how to act, but how about a moderator whos only purpose is to watch over off the wall?

OK, well that shows that we haven't done a good job of explaining how many resources OTW really takes. There are probably 5-6 global mods who spend 90% of their time doing nothing but babysitting OTW. 49 times out of 50, when I get a complaint via PM, it's about something that's happened in OTW.

It takes a *lot* of our time as it is.

--kurt_________________The problem with political jokes is that they get elected

That, or post a HUGE disclaimer about not being responsible for OTW, and don't mess with it at all.

I dunno. I've never been in the moderating business, but as an OTW poster (I try not to personally attack people, by the way, and usually post in order to have interesting conversation), I can safely say that I think it's ridiculous for you guys to spend that much time on OTW. Do whatever is easiest for you guys, and we'll all understand.

OTW is a fun diversion, but the other forums are the ones that are truly useful. I don't think you'd lose many, if any, current Gentoo users by closing OTW.

BTW, thanks for everything, Kurt.
Just my $.02_________________"Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream."

George W. Bush

Last edited by Dr Gonzo on Wed Dec 15, 2004 2:32 am; edited 1 time in total

Are the people that make the Gentoo forums famous for support the same people that would consider leaving if the OTW forum were deleted?_________________rtylershaw: "My computer doesn't even work and I love this distro. Weird."